RNS Number : 4386U
  Amarin Corporation Plc
  14 May 2008
   

    


    AMARIN ANNOUNCES PRIVATE PLACEMENT FOR UP TO $60 MILLION


    DUBLIN, Ireland, May 14, 2008 - Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ: AMRN) today announced a private placement of American Depositary Shares
(each representing one ordinary share) ("ADSs") with several new institutional and accredited investors, and potentially certain directors
of the Company, for up to $60 million funded over two equal tranches. 

    The new investors, who have entered into definitive agreements for gross proceeds of up to $56 million, comprise Sofinnova Ventures,
OrbiMed Advisors LLC, Thomas, McNerney & Partners, Panorama Capital, Longitude Capital and Fountain Healthcare Partners.  The first $28
million tranche is expected to close shortly, subject to customary closing conditions. The investors will have an option to provide up to
$28 million in a second tranche upon completion of certain business milestones by the Company, potentially over the next 12 months. 

    Certain directors of Amarin have indicated an interest in investing up to an additional $4 million in the placement, also over two equal
tranches, bringing the potential total of the placement up to $60 million. Cowen and Company LLC acted as the lead placement agent for the
transaction.

    Thomas Lynch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Amarin, commented "This financing strengthens our balance sheet considerably, and
allows us to accelerate our key clinical development programs. We are now well positioned to take advantage of the significant opportunities
available to the Company." 

    Alan Cooke, President and Chief Operating Officer of Amarin, added "We are delighted with the participation by well recognised biotech
investors and by the continued support of our directors, which we believe reflects the attractive investment proposition Amarin
represents."

    The Company intends to use the proceeds from this financing for progressing its cardiovascular and CNS research and development
pipeline, for general corporate purposes, and the retirement of its $2.75 million convertible debentures issued in December 2007, after
which the company will be debt free.

    The first tranche of $28 million will be settled by the issuance of 12,173,914 new Ordinary Shares and the potential $2 million
investment by directors would be settled by 869,565 new Ordinary Shares, all at $2.30 per share. The second tranche would be settled by the
issuance of ADSs at a price equal to the lower of (i) $2.60, and (ii) 113% of the average of the volume weighted average prices of Amarin's
ADSs as reported on NASDAQ for each of the 30 trading days immediately prior to the date of the closing of the second tranche. 

    Following closing of the first tranche, the new investors will hold approximately 45% of the Ordinary Shares of the Company. Certain of
the new investors will be entitled to join Amarin's Board and will obtain various rights relating to the appointment of directors and
pre-emption on further issues of shares by Amarin. 

    City Code and Regulatory Disclosures
    Following the recent move of the place of central management of the Company to Ireland, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the
"Code") does not apply to Amarin, as the Company does not fall within paragraph 3(a)(ii) of the Introduction to the Code. 

    The securities offered in the private placement are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), or any
state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration, or an applicable exemption from
registration, under the Act and applicable state securities laws. 

    Under an agreement with the investors, the Company is required to file a registration statement with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission covering the resale of the shares of common stock to be issued to the investors no later than sixty days after each
closing and to use reasonable best efforts to have the registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable thereafter.
Application has been made to list 12,173,914 ordinary shares on AIM and IEX respectively.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. There shall not be any
sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offering would be unlawful.

    About Amarin
    Amarin is a biopharmaceutical company focused on improving the lives of patients suffering from cardiovascular and central nervous
system (CNS) diseases. Amarin's cardiovascular programs capitalize on the known therapeutic benefits of essential fatty acids in
cardiovascular disease. Amarin's CNS development pipeline includes programs in myasthenia gravis, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease,
epilepsy and memory. Amarin also has two proprietary technology platforms: a lipid-based technology platform for the targeted transport of
molecules through the liver and/or to the brain, and a unique mRNA technology based on cholinergic neuromodulation. Amarin has its primary
stock market listing in the U.S. on the NASDAQ Capital Market ("AMRN").

    Contacts: 
    Amarin +353 (0)1 669 9020 
    Thomas Lynch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    Alan Cooke, President and Chief Operating Officer
    Darren Cunningham, EVP Strategic Development and Investor Relations
    investor.relations@amarincorp.com 

    Investors: 
    Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc. 
    Anne Marie Fields +1 212 838 3777
    Bruce Voss +1 310 691 7100 

    Media: 
    Powerscourt +44 (0) 207 250 1446 
    Rory Godson 
    Paul Durman 


    Disclosure Notice 
    The information contained in this document is as of May 14, 2008. Amarin assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements
contained in this document as a result of new information or future events or developments. This document contains forward-looking
statements about Amarin's financial condition, results of operations, business prospects and products in research that involve substantial
risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will", "anticipate", "estimate",
"expect", "project", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "believe" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion
of future operating or financial performance or events. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described or projected herein are the following: risks relating to the Company's ability to maintain its Nasdaq listing; Amarin's ability to
maintain sufficient cash and other liquid resources to meet its operating and debt service requirements; the success of Amarin's research and development activities; decisions by regulatory authorities
regarding whether and when to approve Amarin's drug applications, as well as their decisions regarding labeling and other matters that could
affect the commercial potential of Amarin's products; the speed with which regulatory authorizations, pricing approvals and product launches
may be achieved; the success with which developed products may be commercialized; competitive developments affecting Amarin's products under
development; the effect of possible domestic and foreign legislation or regulatory action affecting, among other things, pharmaceutical
pricing and reimbursement, including under Medicaid and Medicare in the United States, and involuntary approval of prescription medicines
for over-the-counter use; Amarin's ability to protect its patents and other intellectual property; claims and concerns that may arise
regarding the safety or efficacy of Amarin's product candidates; governmental laws and regulations affecting Amarin's operations, including those affecting taxation; general changes in
International generally accepted accounting principles; and growth in costs and expenses. A further list and description of these risks,
uncertainties and other matters can be found in Amarin's Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on March
5, 2007, Amarin's statutory annual report for the year ended 31 December, 2006 furnished on a Form 6-K to the SEC on May 9, 2007, Amarin's
Report of Foreign Issuer (Updated and Additional Risk Factors) furnished on a Form 6-K to the SEC on January 8, 2008 and in Amarin's other
Reports of Foreign Issuer on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC.

    ž ž ž



This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
  END 
 
IOESFIFELSASEFI

Amarin (LSE:AMRN)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024 Click Here for more Amarin Charts.
Amarin (LSE:AMRN)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024 Click Here for more Amarin Charts.